Poll: The GOP’s Hispanic nightmare

The Republican brand is like a dog with fleas in the Hispanic community, and it’s not just because of immigration.

A new poll conducted by a Republican pollster for GOP-aligned groups finds that a majority of Hispanics in four swing states would be willing to vote for a candidate even if they don’t agree with his or her position on immigration.

Text Size

But on a host of issues, from abortion to the role of government, the fast-growing Hispanic population breaks with conservatives. Majorities in Florida, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico also agreed that “the Republican party does not respect the values and concerns of the Hispanic community.” In Colorado, they said so by a 33-point margin, 63 percent to 30 percent.

Resurgent Republic and the Hispanic Leadership Network unveiled the findings Wednesday. They jointly surveyed 400 registered Hispanic voters in each of four states carried by President Barack Obama last month. The poll was conducted from Nov. 28 to Dec. 7 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

“If Republicans achieve 40 percent or more of Hispanics nationally, they can elect conservatives to national office,” said GOP pollster Whit Ayres, who unveiled the numbers at a press conference. “Settling for a quarter or less of the Hispanic vote nationally will relegate Republicans to a regional party with few national prospects.”

Only about three in 10 view the Republican Party positively in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. It’s 44 percent in Florida, but that’s because of the high percentage of conservative Cubans.

By a margin of nearly 2-to-1, Hispanics surveyed said that government should do more to solve problems and meet the needs of people. Asked whether government should increase investments or limit spending, taxes and regulations, majorities picked more investment.

Pluralities of Hispanics were pro-choice in Colorado, Florida and Nevada. In New Mexico, 48 percent identified themselves as pro-life, and 40 percent called themselves pro-choice. Pluralities also supported gay marriage.

The poll showed that majorities of Hispanics in all four states believe the Democratic Party cares more about helping the middle class than the Republican Party cares about the same. They also say the Democratic Party understands the needs and concerns of Hispanic voters, works to protect women’s rights and has the right plans to improve education.

Top GOP leaders from the Hispanic community are largely undefined outside their home states.

In Nevada, for example, 65 percent have either never heard of or have no opinion about New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.

In New Mexico, meanwhile, 84 percent have either never heard of or have no opinion about Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. In the same state, 51 percent don’t know enough to offer an opinion of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

Respondents were read nine different policies related to immigration. They supported all but one by strong margins, including guest worker programs, border security and various pathways to legal status. Strong majorities opposed “taking aggressive steps to seek out and deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible.” Among Hispanics, there is minimal opposition to strengthening border security.

HLN Executive Director Jennifer Korn contends that conservative policies are more closely aligned with the values of Hispanic voters. She believes that minority voters are alienated by “the tone of some Republicans running for office.”

“Continuing on this path is political suicide for conservatives,” she said in a statement releasing the numbers. “It is up to the rising stars of the conservative movement, from Paul Ryan to Marco Rubio, to change the tide.”

Readers' Comments (54)

Well, this is what happens when the leaders of your party "Limbaugh, Romney, FoxNews et al" refer to them as "illegals" and talk about "self-deportation". When the one candidate that could actually reach them and gain their trust was running (Perry) he got shot down in flames.

The right needs to stop with the "illegals" rhetoric and move on, or this will never change....

The GOP has made it quite clear they are the party of angry old bigotted white men. What self-respecting Hispanic would want to throw in with them? Just because crusty old conservatives consistently vote against their own best interests doesnt mean other people want to.

Not everyone is brain-washed by Sean Hannity- just those crotchety old fool whose lives consist of sitting in front of the tv at night, watching Fox News and grinding there teeth as they sit there, hating the world.

Funny how in 2010, the year of the historic Republican gains and a Democratic wipeout there wasn't any talk from the leftwing media about how the Democrats were in trouble.

In 2014 after two years of a lame duck President the voters will be ready to oust the obstructionist senate Dems led by Harry Reid and with the Botox Princess still the face of the House Democrats voters will again give republicans gains in a off year midterm when Democrats won't have an incumbent presidents coattails or his five hundred million dollar election organization to ride on.

GOP's answer will be to send up a token hispanic guy like Rubio or Cruz. The problem with this is that it falls in line with their ignorance. If you think Cubans are the same as Mexicans, or Venezuelans are the same as Peruvians I suggest you open your books or social circles.

In Mexico the government runs and controls big segments of the economy, from health care to oil production to phone service. In the US they will vote for what they are familiar with, big government control, and that is not the GOP.

liberal wrote: "So let's get this straight so there's no misunderstanding. Republicans still want to deport immigrants" Wrong as usual, Republicans want MORE educated, productive immigrants (STEM Act). The people they want to deport are foreign invaders. If you don't believe me live in Maywood California for a while. If any of the racist La Raza apartment managers would rent to you that is.

"Mr. Cosmic, 65% of Hispanics in the USA are Mexican origin. Most of them vote Democrat. If not for Mexicans, the Hispanic vote would lean GOP." Keep thinking that and keep losing. Guatemalans, Hondurans, Nicaraguans, etc... all lean left. Cubans do lean right though, except for this lat election

Why would any person of color or immigrant vote for he Republican party and their rabid conservative base? We know which of the two parties cater to bigots and incite them with code language. As a foreign born American who has lived here since I was 5 years old I understand who the enemy is. The people who when the first non-white president was elected tried to denounce him as a marxist, unamerican and a traitor. The fact of the matter is that the GOP with the southern strategy of catering and tailoring their policies to fit the narrow and hateful mindset of he Confederate States of America crowd has bet big on hate and the narrow mindedness of white Americans. Unfortunately, for them white Americans as a whole are not as terrified of black and brown people and have no problem in the vision of a multicultural and big tent America, just like it was always intended to be. The young and women in particular are turned off big time by the GOPs message of we are the real Americans. Thank god for the social and cultural tolerance of white america and how out of sync the gop is with the actual mainstream of popular opinion. Hate is a loser in this country and the GOP bet big on hate and lost, and they have barely made the first installment on their punishment.

" How is the GOP going to cope with the fact that one of the largest Hispanic groups, Puerto Ricans have signaled that they now support statehood and are overwhelmingly Democratic leaning." How about giving Puerto Rico statehood in exchange for letting California secede? Half the people in CA believe it should be part of Mexico. Plus then we wouldn't have to change our flag!

"Costa Ricans, Panamanians, South Americans" Wrong. I have live in both CR and Panama, I assure you they lean left. Costa Rica has no army. Costa Rica has great socialized health care. Costa Rica has legalized prostitution and lax laws on pot.